Today we visited La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and it was definitely one of my favorite days of the entire trip! I had a lot of fun seeing all of the waterfalls, and I spent a lot of time watching the monkeys swing around, play, and eat! In addition to all the great memories I made on this trip, I also learned a lot about the supply chain and what it takes to operate a business, especially regarding designing and launching.  All of the farms we visited took sustainability very seriously. They designed their farms in such a way that they helped the environment and could educate others on their practices. For example, intercropping to prevent soil depletion and the use of biofertilizer to prevent harsh chemical usage on crops. Seeing these practices made me realize how intentional farmers are with their environmental impact, even if the customers do not see this. 

Processing mills are also taking sustainability into great consideration when operating. The coffee farms use a lot of water when performing quality tests on the picked cherries. Instead of wasting all this water, they reuse the water for irrigation on the farms. Also, new equipment is being designed to conserve water and power so that processes can run more environmentally friendly. Another thoughtful design is the way coffee beans are dried. The beans are laid out to dry in the sun and then turned periodically. This uses no additional energy since there is no machine involved, and it saves the companies a lot of money since the sun is a free source of heat. These ideas began opening my mind to the financial reasoning behind a business’s actions, which I find very intriguing.

When it comes to being sold in stores, roasters and retail companies do everything to get more buyers. Roasters create a large variety of coffee types from light roast to dark roast and different types of coffee like peaberry or decaf. This ensures there is something for everyone to enjoy, and more importantly, buy! Retail stores also give out many free samples of coffee types and chocolates to show store goers how good their products are. No one can say no to a free sample, and after trying some in the gift shops, shoppers, especially tourists, will want to take some home. 

Companies advertise to customers in ways that will make them stand out against competitors. Using bright, beautiful packaging helps certain brands stand out against others in the grocery store. Customers are also more likely to buy from a brand they feel good about supporting. For example, if a percentage of the profit is being donated to a charity or a conservation act, consumers are more likely to buy from that brand. Through this whole process, I learned there is great intention behind every act from a business, and they will do whatever it takes to get you to buy from them. I also learned that if you’re planning to come to Costa Rica, be prepared to catch a salamander in your house! Or two!